PRESENTATION  AND  UNVEILING 


OF  THE 


manorial 


COMMEMORATING 


THE  LINCOLN  AND 
BURNS  EVENT 


(NOVEMBER  19.  1863) 


HELD  AT   THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 
GETTYSBURG,  PA.,  NOV.  19TH,  1914. 


7 


THE 
LINCOLN  AND  BURNS 

EVENT 


The  contents  of  this  booklet  in  great 
part  from  the  "Gettysburg  Com 
piler,"  issue,  November  28, 


SECOND  EDITION 


ROCHESTER, 

1916 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

Gettysburg,  Pa. 


THE  LINCOLN  AND  BURNS  EVENT 


MEMORIAL  TABLETS  UNVEILED  IN 
PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


Unique  Ceremony  in  which  Recollections  of  a 
Number  of  Citizens  were  Given. 


The  Fifty-first  Anniversary  of  President 
Lincoln  and  John  Burns  attending  the  Presby 
terian  Church  in  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  on  the  evening 
of  November  19,  1863,  when  Lieutenant  Gov 
ernor-elect  Anderson,  of  Ohio,  made  an  address 
in  the  church,  was  appropriately  observed  on 
Thursday  evening,  Nov.  19,  1914.  The  Tablets 
unveiled  marking  the  pew  in  which  Lincoln  and 
Burns  sat  were  donated  by  John  White  Johnston, 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  the  Tablet  on  outside  of 
church  was  presented  by  Col.  E.  B.  Cope.  The 
church  was  crowded  and  there  was  a  good  rep- 

Pagel 

491234 


restritation  of  those  who  lived  in  the  town  fifty- 
one  years  ago  and  of  a  few  who  had  attended  the 
exercises  at  that  time. 

The  exercises  were  opened  by  a  solo,  "Battle 
Hymn  of  the  Republic",  by  J.  S.  Nicholas. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Baker,  pastor  of  St.  James 
Lutheran  Church  offered  prayer. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


Page  2 


ADDRESS  OF  DR.  T.  G.  BILLHEIMER. 


Dr.  T.  C.  Billheimer  made  the  first  address  on 
"Lincoln"  at  Gettysburg".  In  opening  Dr.  Bill 
heimer  stated  that  he  would  limit  his  remarks  to 
the  presence  of  President  Lincoln  in  the  Presby 
terian  Church,  saying :  "It  was  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  day  on  which  the  address  had  been  deliv 
ered  I  was  standing  on  the  pavement  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  street  when  the  procession  came 
headed  for  this  church.  We  had  been  told  that 
President  Lincoln  and  a  few  of  the  great  men  of 
Washington  would  be  there.  I  stood  on  the  pave 
ment  but  did  not  have  to  wait  long  until  the  pro 
cession  came.  The  only  thing  that  has  remained 
in  my  memory  is  President  Lincoln  and  John 
Burns  walking  side  by  side  up  the  street  to  this 
church. 

The  President  was  a  tall  man  and  Mr.  Burns 
a  small  man  and  as  they  came  along  I  was 
amused.  I  could  not  help  being  amused.  I 
laughed  and  laughed  aloud.  Lincoln  took  enor 
mous  strides  and  Mr.  Burns  could  not  take 
strides  like  that.  He  could  not  keep  step  with  the 
President. 

I  instantly  resolved  that  I  would  get  into  this 
church  and  I  was  not  more  than  ten  feet  behind 

PageS 


President  Lincoln.  Several  pews  had  been  re 
served  for  the  distinguished  party.  Mr.  Lincoln 
went  up  the  right  or  south  aisle  and  stopped  at 
the  first  vacant  pew,  instead  of  going  to  the  front 
pew,  and  he  stepped  aside  to  allow  three  or  four 
of  his  party  to  enter  the  pew,  and  then  took  the 
aisle  seat.  John  Burns  sat  beside  President 
Lincoln.  I  sat  several  pews  behind  the  President 
but  on  the  other  side  of  the  aisle  and  in  an  aisle 
seat.  My  eyes  were  glued  upon  the  President.  I 
had  never  seen  a  live  President  and  never  one 
like  Lincoln,  whose  greatness  was  on  every 
tongue.  I  fixed  my  eyes  on  him,  sometimes  I  had 
a  rear  view,  sometimes  a  side  view  when  he 
turned  and  I  never  took  my  eyes  from  him.  I 
can  not  recollect  what  the  speaker  said  nor  can 
I  tell  what  the  speaker  looked  like.  I  only  know 
I  kept  my  eyes  on  President  Lincoln  all  the  time. 
When  the  address  was  over  the  audience  was 
asked  to  remain  standing  until  President  Lincoln 
and  his  party  left  the  church.  I  stood  up  in  my 
pew  as  this  great  man  walked  towards  me  and 
fixed  my  eyes  on  that  marvelous  face.  I  can 
vouch  for  the  fact  that  President  Lincoln  was 
in  this  church  that  day  because  I  saw  him  and 
what  a  man  sees  he  can  stand  by.  I  think  you 
are  as  near  right  in  selecting  the  pew  as  can  be. 
In  closing  may  I  say  I  am  glad  I  saw  him.  I  am 

Page  4 


glad  I  was  permitted  to  behold  a  man  like  Presi 
dent  Lincoln.  This  is  not  the  only  time  I  saw 
Lincoln  but:  somehow  his  presence  here  made  an 
impression  on  me  that  has  never  left  me." 


ENGRAVED    BY   WILLIAM    FERINE. 


JOHN  BURNS. 


Col.  James  K.  P.  Scott,  of  Gettysburg,  the 
esteemed  and  honored  friend  of  Lyman  Whitney 
Allen,  read  the  Poem  "Jonn  Burns  of  Gettys 
burg". 

Page  5 


JOHN  BURNS  OF  GETTYSBURG. 


I 

There  near  the  buildings  of  MacPherson's  farm, 

Beside  the  road,  on  graven  granite  base, 

A  form  in  bronze  is  standing.    All  who  pass 

Pause  reverently,  and  rehearse  the  tale 

Of  the  old  Constable  of  Gettysburg, 

Who,  as  the  First  Corps  moved  along  the  pike. 

Strode  forth  and  claimed  the  soldier's  privilege. 

He  wore  no  uniform.     Civilian  hat 

Shadowed  his  whitened  hair  and  shaggy  brow. 

A  simple  suit,  which  he  was  wont  to  use 

In  daily  civic  service,  clothed  his  form. 

A  rifle  in  his  hand,  a  powder  horn 

Across  his  shoulder  swung,  his  pockets  filled 

With  shot  for  instant  use,  his  aged  frame 

Quivering  with  hate  and  valor, — thus  he  stood, 

'Mid  martial  laughter,  scorning  wounds  and  death. 

Who   could   restrain  or  who  could   chide  him   there, 

That  incarnation  of  the  People's  soul? 

Into  the  fight  he  plunged, — that  stubborn  fight 

Where  warriors   strove  contesting  inch  by  inch 

The  earth  fast  licking  up  heroic  blood 

And  mutinous  with  shock  of  falling  forms. 

He  fought  as  only  aged  men  can  fight 

Whose  second  youth  hath  risen  through  violence. 

He  faltered  not,  but  standing  recklessly 

He  poured  his  eager  shot  into  the  foe, 

Laying  a  gray-hued  harvest  round  his  feet. 

At  last,  thrice  wounded,  he  was  borne  away 
Ready  to  die,  undying,  living  on 
Into  the  Nation's  peace  full  many  a  year, 
And  known  afar,  "Hero  of  Gettysburg." 


Page  6 


And  they  who,  like  the  captains  of  brave  men, 
E'er  love  and  praise  what  in  the  old  man's  soul 
Rose  on  that  day  a  glory  wrought  of  God, 
And  know  it  as  the  Nation's  altar  fire 
Within  a  People's  millioned  hearts  and  homes, 
Have  placed  yon  statue  bold  upon  the  field 
Near  to  the  gallant  Reynolds,  symbol  true 
Of  civic  patriotism.     'Twas  well  done. 

II 

When  later  in  that  following  Autumn  tide, 

The  afternoon  of  that  immortal  day 

Of  dedication  of  the  Cemetery, 

Swathed  in  the  splendor  of  his  great  address 

Lincoln  walked  forth  to  the  historic  church 

For  worshipful  exalting  of   God's  grace, 

'Twas  this  same  patriotic  Constable 

Who  trod  beside  him,  sat  in  the  same  pew, 

Received  from  the  Republic's  honored  Chief 

High  recognition  ne'er  to  be  forgot, 

A  coronal  of  sweet  remembrance. 

And  in  the  historic  church,  'midst  memories 

Of  soldier  mounds  and  healing  oil  and  wine 

Poured  forth  at  hands  of  Good  Samaritans, 

A  Tablet,  gift  of  patriot  reverence, 

Fell  one  and  fifty  years  thereafter  placed, 

Adorns  the  pew,  and  tells  both  name  and  fame 

Of  the  immortals  who  were  seated  there. 

And  they  who  worship  there  from  week  to  week 
Feel  a  fine  atmosphere  of  sacredness 
Fanning  the  incense  flames  of  sacrifice. 
Waking  new  music  in  the  house  of  praise. 

LYMAN  WHITNEY  ALLEN. 


Page? 


REV.  HENRY  GRAHAM  FINNEY, 

Pastor,  Presbyterian  Church, 
Gettysburg,  Pa.— 1861-1864. 


PageS 


PRESENTATION  ADDRESS  OF 

COL.  E.  B.  COPE,  READ  BY 

JUDGE  S.  McG.  SWOPE. 

Judge  S.  McC.  Swope,  representing  Col.  E. 
B.  Cope,  who  was  unable  to  be  present  on  account 
of  illness,  then  read  the  letter  presenting  the  Lin 
coln  Tablet  on  the  outside  of  the  church,  as 
follows : 

"I  was  not  at  Gettysburg  when  the  National 
Cemetery  was  dedicated.  I  had  a  small  party 
of  topographers  here  August,  September  and 
October,  1863.  So  we  just  missed  the  dedication. 

The  President  attended  this  church  on  that 
occasion  and  many  of  the  members  and  others 
thought  it  proper  that  a  Tablet  should  be  put  up 
to  state  this.  I  consulted  with  the  pastor  and 
some  of  the  congregation,  and  as  a  representative 
of  the  session  prepared  a  design  for  a  Tablet  with 
inscription,  which,  with  some  changes,  was  ap 
proved.  I  had  this  cast  in  bronze,  and  put  on  the 
front  of  the  building. 

I  take  pleasure  in  presenting  this  Tablet  to  the 
church. 

E.  B.  COPE." 

Page  9 


COL.  E.  B.  COPE 

[Col.  Cope  enlisted  June  4,  1861,  in  Co.  A,  1st 
Penna.  Reserve  Division  and  was  promoted  to 
sergeant  about  1862  and  transferred  three 
months  later  to  Co.  C,  5th  U.  S.  Regular  Artil 
lery.  He  returned  to  the  original  Division,  then 
detailed  by  order  of  Gen.  Halleck  to  the  Topo 
graphical  Engineer  Headquarters  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Served  under  Gen.  Warren,  Chief 

Page  10 


of  Engineers.  Promoted  to  captain  and  A.  D.  C. 
on  Warren's  staff,  who  was  put  in  command  of 
the  5th  Corps,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
Maj.  Roebling  resigned  to  build  the  Brooklyn 
Bridge  when  he  was  given  his  rank  and  place, 
i.  e.,  Major  and  A.  D.  C.,  and  about  the  close  of 
the  war  was  given  the  brevet  rank  of  Lieut.  Col. 
He  was  mustered  out  July,  1865.  His  commis 
sion  bears  the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He 
came  to  Gettysburg  in  July,  1893,  as  Chief  En 
gineer  of  the  Gettysburg  National  Park.] 


The  organist  played  softly  the  music  of  "My 
Country  Tis  of  Thee"  while  two  little  girls, 
Martha  Bell  and  Katherine  Hill,  dressed  in  white 
with  red,  white  and  blue  ribbons,  unveiled  the 
flag  and  autumnal  foliage  from  the  Lincoln  and 
Burns  Memorial  Tablets  on  the  church  pew. 


UNVEILING  OF  THE  TABLETS 
ON  LINCOLN  PEW. 


Rev.  F.  E.  Taylor,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  said  the  interest  of  this  community  is 
shown  in  the  presence  of  the  audience,  this  even 
ing,  as  a  tribute  to  the  great  men  who  were  here 

Page  11 


FRANKLIN  ELLSWORTH  TAYLOR, 

Pastor,  Presbyterian  Church, 
Gettysburg,  Pa.  1911—. 

fifty-one  years  ago.  That  the  pew  is  now  marked 
is  due  to  J.  W.  Johnston  of  Rochester,  and  the 
tablet  on  the  outside  to  Col.  E.  B.  Cope. 

Mr.    Johnston,    being    introduced,    spoke    as 
follows  : 

Page  12 


PRESENTATION  ADDRESS  OF 
JOHN  WHITE  JOHNSTON. 


"No  poor  words  of  mine  on  this  occasion  can 
add  to  the  truth  nor  to  the  beauty  of  what  has 
already  been  said,  nor  to  what  will  be  said  by  the 
speakers  who  are  to  follow  me,  relative  to  the 
greatness  of  the  two  men  in  whose  memory  these 
Tablets  are  now  unveiled. 

John  Burns  was  of  my  kith.  He  was  of 
humble  birth  and  station,  a  humble  artisan,  a 
servant  of  this  little  town,  which  by  his  heroism 
at  an  hour  of  the  country's  greatest  need,  he 
helped  to  make  celebrated  and  known  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  Incidentally,  he  also  helped  to  make 
the  name  'Gettysburg'  synonymous  with  the 
thought  of  the  perpetuation  of  the  union  of  these 
American  States. 

It  is  with  all  the  fullness  of  my  heart,  Mr. 
Chairman  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trus 
tees,  that  I  bestow  upon  you  as  the  representa 
tives  of  this  congregation,  these  Tablets  to  have 
and  to  hold  by  you  and  your  successors  while 
this  sacred  edifice  stands  and  remains  a  haven  of 
devotion  for  those  who  love  the  name  of  Christ 

Page  13 


and  for  those  who  love  the  names  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  John  Burns. 

It  is  in  recognition  and  as  a  mark  of  the  great 
President's  democracy;  in  the  acknowledgement 
of  a  simple  act  of  kindness  on  his  part;  also,  in 
appreciation  of  Lincoln's  unbounded  love  for  his 
fellow  man,  that  these  memorials  now  pass  into 
the  possession  of  this  church,  honored  for  all 
time  by  the  great  Emancipator's  presence  here 
just  fifty-one  years  ago. 

In  taking  the  arm  of  the  humble,  yet  the  truly 
brave  and  ever  patriotic,  John  Burns  and  in 
sitting  beside  him  in  the  pew  now  appropriately 
marked — after  having  spoken  his  immortal  words 
at  the  Cemetery  of  the  honored  dead — Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  man  of  the  people,  the  man  of  God, 
again  subscribed  to  his  faith  in  the  creed  of  an 
other  Burns,  who  said  in  words  more  enduring 
than  letters  of  bronze  : 

"For  a'  that,  and  a'  that, 

It's  coming  yet,  for  a'  that, 
That  man  to  man,   the  warld  o'er 
Shall  brothers  be  for  a'  that !" 


Page  14 


PHOTO    BY    PIRIE    MAC  DONALD,    N.   Y. 


JOHN  WHITE  JOHNSTON. 


Page  15 


ACCEPTANCE  OF 

MEMORIAL  TABLETS 

BY  REV.  F.  E.  TAYLOR. 


"On  Thursday,  November  19,  1914,  we  com 
memorate  the  meeting  held  in  this  building,  and 
attended  by  President  Lincoln  and  his  staff,  ac 
companied  by  the  patriot,  John  Burns,  on  Thurs 
day,  November  19,  1863. 

But  for  the  initiative  of  Mr.  David  Wills, 
we  would  not  be  assembled  for  this  significant 
service.  As  President  of  the  Soldiers'  National 
Cemetery  Association  at  Gettysburg,  Judge  Wills 
had  charge  of  all  the  arrangements  for  the  dedi 
cation  of  the  Cemetery,  and  it  was  on  his  official 
invitation  that  President  Lincoln  came  to  Gettys 
burg  on  that  occasion. 

Judge  Wills  suggested  and  was  largely  instru 
mental  in  bringing  to  fruition  the  patriotic  meet 
ing  which  was  held  in  this  church  on  the  day  of 
the  dedication  of  the  Cemetery. 

He  entertained  President  Lincoln  in  his  home 
on  Centre  Square,  and  arranged  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
attend  this  meeting  here. 

Grateful  acknowledgement  of  these  facts  is 

Page  16 


owed  Judge  Wills  and  we  mention  them  as  a 
fitting  tribute  to  him. 

During  the  celebration  of  the  Fiftieth  Anni 
versary  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg  special  serv 
ices  were  held  in  this  church  and  on  the  happy 
suggestion  of  Dr.  C.  B.  Stauffer,  then  chairman 
of  the  Trustees,  the  silk  flag  presented  to  the 
Sunday  School  by  the  State  Convention  of  the 
Women's  Relief  Corps,  was  used  to  mark  the 
pew  occupied  by  President  Lincoln  at  the  meet 
ing  in  '63. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Johnston,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  an 
enthusiastic  student  and  lecturer  on  this  battle, 
was  one  of  the  many  attendants  on  that  occa 
sion,  and  evidently  carried  away  a  patriotic  idea. 
The  Pastor  of  the  church  participated  with  others 
on  request  of  Mr.  Johnston,  in  a  memorial  serv 
ice  at  the  grave  of  John  Burns  on  last  July  2nd, 
just  fifty-one  years  after  his  heroism  at  the  great 
battle. 

For  this  service  Mr.  Johnston  wrote  his 
friend,  Mr.  J.  Louis  Sowers,  offering  through 
him  to  the  pastor  and  congregation  of  this 
church  a  memorial  Tablet  for  the  Lincoln  Memo 
rial  pew.  This  offer  revived  an  idea  which  had 
been  frequently  discussed  by  local  friends  of  the 
church — that  of  placing  a  Lincoln  Tablet  on  the 
front  of  the  church.  After  the  marker  to  the 

Page  17 


Cavalry  hospitals,  now.  in  place  on  the  front  ter 
race,  was  assured,  at  a  meeting  of  Session  the 
placing  of  a  Tablet  near  the  entrance  door  of  the 
church  was  earnestly  considered.  All  thought  it 
should  be  done.  Col.  E.  B.  Cope  announced  that 
he  would  place  it,  and  in  due  time  the  Tablet,  the 
gift  of  Col.  Cope,  was  erected.  It  bears  this 
inscription : 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 
Occupied  a  Seat  in  this  Church 

NOVEMBER  19,  1863 

On  the  Day  He  Dedicated  the 

National  Cemetery  and  Made  His 

Immortal  Address. 


This  Tablet  had  just  been  placed  when  Mr. 
Johnston's  offer  came  to  us.  I  need  not  tell  you 
that  his  proffered  gift  was  heartily  accepted. 

In  the  correspondence  which  followed,  the 
idea  grew  in  Mr.  Johnston's  mind.  First  he 
offered  a  Tablet  to  mark  the  panel  of  the  Lincoln 
pew,  then  a  Tablet  to  the  memory  of  John  Burns, 
and,  later,  a  second  plate  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  marking 
the  back  of  the  pew.  Accordingly,  we  unveil 
three  Tablets  in  the  church  this  evening.  One  on 
the  back  of  the  pew  bears  these  words : 


THE  LINCOLN  PEW 


Page  18 


A  large  Tablet  on  the  panel  of  the  end  of 
the  pew  carries  the  inscription: 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 

Sat   in   this    Pew    at    a    Patriotic 

Service  held  on  the  Evening  of 

the  Day  He    Dedicated  the 

National  Cemetery 


A  third  Tablet  marks  the  seat  occupied  by 
John  Burns,  and  declares : 


JOHN  BURNS 

SCOTTISH  AMERICAN  PATRIOT 

A  Hero  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg 

Was  Here  Signallv  Honored  by 

the  Great  President 

Abraham  Lincoln  and  John  Burns 
walked  arm  in  arm  to  patriotic  ser 
vices  held  in  this  edifice  on  the  evening 
of  Nov.  igth,  1863.  They  sat  together 
in  this  pew. 


The  unanimous  sentiment  of  this  congrega 
tion  and,  I  may  say,  of  this  community,  is  one  of 
abounding  gratitude  to  the  generous  and  disinter 
ested  donors  of  these  memorials. 

The  position  taken  by  President  Lincoln,  pew 
64,  has  been  fixed  after  a  canvass  and  a  careful 
consideration  by  the  trustees  of  all  the  state 
ments  that  have  been  made  to  them. 

In  behalf  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  oi 
the  entire  community  I  accept  these  memorial 


Page  19 


Tablets,  the  gift  of  Col.  E.  B.  Cope  and  Mr.  J.  W. 
Johnston,  and  express  the  most  hearty  apprecia 
tion  of  the  people  at  Gettysburg  for  these  abiding 
memorial  to  our  martyred  and  exalted  President 
and  to  a  patriot  here  here  so  highly  honored." 


THE  LINCOLN  PEW 


VOCAL  SOLO  BY  MR.  NICHOLAS. 


J.  S.  Nicholas  then  sang  the  "Star  Spangled 
Banner''. 


ADDRESS  BY  JUDGE  WM.  MACLEAN. 


"John  Burns  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1794, 
came  to  Pennsylvania,  followed  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  was  elected  one  of  the  two  Constables 
of  the  borough  of  Gettysburg,  March  20,  1857, 
and  made  his  regular  quarterly  returns  to  the 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions."  Several  of  his  re 
turns  as  constable  were  exhibited  showing  his 
signature.  Some  of  the  characteristics  of  Burns 
as  being  a  man  without  humor,  and  the  butt  of 
many  jokes  of  his  fellow  townsmen  were  re 
ferred  to.  "Passing  over  the  important  event  of 
his  participation  as  a  civilian  in  the  Battle  of 
Gettysburg,  July  1st,  1863,  and  of  his  accompany 
ing  President  Lincoln  to  the  meeting  held  in  this 
church  on  the  evening  of  Thursday,  Nov.  19th, 
1863,  we  find  that  he  made  his  last  will  and  testa 
ment  in  writing,  bearing  date  the  13th  day  of 
Jan.,  1872;  that  his  death  occurred  shortly  after 
that  date,  within  thirty  days,  his  will  being  pro- 

Page  2± 


bated  on  the  7th  day  of  February,  1872,  before 
the  Register  of  Wills  of  Adams  County,  his  will 
being  witnessed  by  David  A.  Buehler  and  Robert 
McCurdy.  His  wife,  Barbara,  had  pre-deceased 
him  about  four  years,  and  she  was  some  five 
years  his  junior  in  age.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  buried  on  the  southern  slope  of  our  beauti 
ful  city  of  the  dead,  and  our  Post  No.  9,  G.  A.  R., 
erected  over  their  graves  a  becoming  granite 
monument,  having  on  its  base  the  significant  and 
appropriate  word  "Patriot".  His  estate  accord 
ing  to  the  inventory  and  appraisement  thereof  is 
as  follows : 

l_One  gun  $      5.00 

2— Cane    3.00 

3— Stove  4.00 

4— Bedstead    1.00 

5— Box  Books 25 

6 — 46  acres  real  estate  in 
Mt.  Pleasant  Township 
at  $33  per  acre  1518.00 


$1531.25 

His  entire  personal  estate  being  of  the  value 
of  $13.25. 

By  his  will  he  bequeathed  to  Mary  Jane  Wil 
son,  daughter  of  his  adopted  daughter,  Martha, 
and  living  at  the  date  of  his  will  with  Henry 
Chritzman  in  Gettysburg,  the  sum  of  $800,  and 
providing  that  should  this  girl  die  without  marry- 

Page  22 


ing  or  before  she  becomes  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  the  bequest  is  to  become  void  and  the  legacy 
is  to  revert  to  his  estate,  and  then  he  gives  all  his 
estate  to  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Gettysburg  to  be  appropriated  by  them 
as  they  may  deem  best,  in  advancing  and  promot 
ing  the  cause  of  religion  in  connection  with  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Of  this  will  he  appointed  Robert  Martin  of 
Gettysburg  the  executor,  and  authorized  him  to 
sell  all  his  real  and  personal  estate  at  public  or 
private  sale  as  he  may  deem  best. 

The  Methodist  Church  could  not  have  re 
ceived  the  legacy  of  $800  under  the  law  on 
account  of  the  short  interval  between  the  making 
of  the  will  and  the  death  of  the  testator.  .  The 
$800  was  distributed  to  Mary  Jane  Wilson  who 
in  1875  was  a  minor  under  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  and  Robert  D.  Armor  was  appointed  her 
trustee  by  the  Orphans'  Court  of  this  county. 

The  death  of  John  L.  Burns  occurred  at  the 
residence  of  a  nephew,  Mr.  Hagarman,  near 
Bonneauville,  this  county  on  Sunday  morning, 
February  4,  1872,  from  pneumonia,  after  a  short 
attack.  His  body  was  interred  in  the  Evergreen 
Cemetery  on  Monday  with  the  honors  of  war,  the 
Gettysburg  Zuoaves  turning  out  on  the  occasion. 
His  age  was  about  seventy-eight  years.  He  came 

Page  23 


to  this  country  more  than  forty  years  before  his 
death  and  married  here.  His  connection  with  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg  served  to  'spread  his  fame 
throughout  the  land'  and  it  becoming  known  that 
he  was  without  means,  brought  him  many  con 
tributions,  aggregating  several  thousand  dollars.'' 


MR.  J.  LOUIS  SOWERS,    MR.  J.  W.  JOHNSTON 
and   REV.  F.  E.  TAYLOR 

at  the  Grave  of  John  L.  Burns,  Nov.  20,  1914 


Page  24 


Residents  of  Gettysburg  and  vicinity  photo 
graphed  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Memorials,  who 
in  several  instances  recalled  the  visit  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  to  Gettysburg  in  1863,  were  as  follows  :— 

MR.  OLIVER  H.  BENNER 
MRS.  ANNIE  E.  COBBAN 
MR.  HENRY  DUSTMAN 
MR.  JOHN  HAMILTON 
Miss  MARY  KENDLEHART 
MRS.  JACOB  KITZMILLER 
MRS.  THEO  MACALISTER 
HON.  WM.  MACLEAN 
REV.  ROBERT  MACLEAN 
Miss  KATE  MCCREARY 
MR.  JAMES  MAC!LHENNY 
MR.  JOHN  K.  MAC!LHENNY 
MR.  WM.  A.  MAC!LHENNY 
MR.  OSCAR  D.  MACMILLAN 
MR.  JOHN  E.  PITZER 
MR.  DAVID  PLANK 
MR.  SAMUEL  D.  RECK 
MRS.  ELLEN  RUPP 
Miss  AMANDA  SAXDOE 
MR.  DANIEL  A.  S KELLY 
MRSI  I.  S.  STONESIFER 
MRS.  WM.  TAWNEY 

Page  25 


GROUP   OF    GETTYSBURG    RESIDENTS 

Several  of  whom  recalled  the  Lincoln-Burns  Event  of  1863 
on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the  Tablets,  1914. 


Page  26 


REMINISCENCES. 


.  Reminiscences  closed  the  meeting  by  residents 
of  Gettysburg  who  remembered  the  exercises  at 
the  dedication  at  the  National  Cemetery,  Nov. 
19th,  1863,  and  the  patriotic  services  at  the 
church  following,  when  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President,  signally  honored  John  Burns,  the  man, 
and  John  Burns,  the  soldier.  The  first  was  a 
letter  from  Hon.  Wm.  T.  Ziegler,  read  by  Prof. 
J.  Louis  Sowers: 

CAPT.  ZIEGLER'S  LETTER. 

GETTYSBURG,  PA.,  Nov.  19,  1914. 

I  sincerely  thank  you  for  your  very  kind  invi 
tation  to  be  with  you  to-night  but  after  my  recent 
severe  illness,  I  deem  it  best  not  to  venture  out 
after  night  unless  it  be  absolutely  necessary. 

The  object  of  your  meeting  is  a  noble  one. 
The  Church  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  St.  Michael's 
Church  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  point  with  pride 
to  the  pew  where  the  Father  of  our  Country  sat 
and  worshipped  God.  So  in  centuries  to  come, 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Gettysburg  will  point 
with  pride  to  the  pew  in  which  Abraham 
Lincoln  sat,  and  thanked  God  for  our  victory  at 
Gettysburg. 

Page  27 


Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  eulogy  of  this 
great  man,  whom  God  had  raised  up  in  the 
wilderness  of  a  new  nation  for  the  special  pur 
pose  to  restore  our  nation  and  place  it  on  a  foun 
dation  that  cost  the  blood  of  a  half  million  men 
to  build,  and  where  let  us  hope,  it  will  forever 
stand. 

I  am  glad  in  my  soul  that  away  back  more 
than  fifty-three  years  ago,  I  answered  his  first 
appeal  for  three  year  volunteers,  and  helped  to 
shout  back  to  him,  'We  are  coming  Father 
Abraham,  300,000  strong". 

Your  work  to-night  is  a  worthy  tribute  to  a 
great  and  good  man,  whom  we  are  all  so  proud  of. 

So  far  as  John  Burns  is  concerned,  I  am 
proud  that  he  was  a  citizen  of  our  town,  and  I 
believe  every  person  living  here  feels  just  as  I 
do,  and  if  I  were  with  you  to-night,  I  know  no 
words  I  could  utter  in  the  praise  of  this  Hero  of 
Gettysburg,  more  suitable  at  this  time,  than  to 
read  to  you  what  Gen.  Doubleday  said  of  him  in 
his  official  report  of  the  first  day's  battle  on  July 
1st,  1863. 

Concerning  John  Burns,  he  said :  "My  thanks 
are  specially  due  to  a  citizen  of  Gettysburg, 
named  John  Burns  who,  although  over  seventy 
years  of  age,  shouldered  his  musket  and  offered 
his  services  to  Colonel  Wistar  of  the  150th  Penn- 

Page  28 


sylvania  Volunteers.  Col.  Wistar  advised  him  to 
fight  in  the  woods  as  there  was  more  shelter 
there  but  he  preferred  to  join  our  line  of 
skirmishers  in  the  open  field. 

When  the  troops  retired  he  fought  with  the 
Iron  Brigade.     He  was  wounded  in  three  places. 

Signed, 

A.  DOUBLEDAY, 
Maj.  Gen.  of  Volunteers. 
To  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  S.  WILLIAMS, 
Asst.  Adjutant  General,  Headquar 
ters  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

With  much  respect,  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours, 

W.  T.  ZIEGLER, 


Page  29 


HON.  WM.  H.  TIPTON. 


"I  do  not  think  that  I  should  consume  any  of 
the  valuable  time  that  appears  to  be  so  limited, 
and  especially  when  there  are  others  here  whose 
reminiscences  would  be  more  interesting.  Owing 
to  my  youth  and  inexperience  I  was  incapable  of 
fully  appreciating  the  important  events  that  were 
transpiring,  but  my  eagerness  to  see  and  hear  the 
President — whom  I  regarded  as  much  above  all 
other  men,  and  second  only  to  the  Almighty — 
centered  all  my  attention  on  Mr.  Lincoln  and  no 
word  or  movement  of  his  escaped  my  attention. 

I  had  heard  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the 
homeliest  man  in  the  country,  but  when  my  eyes 
beheld  that  sad  but  kindly  countenance,  those 
strong  rugged  features  seemed  handsome  to  me. 
I  did  not  see  him  come  to  this  church  nor  did  I 
see  him  here.  While  leaning  out  of  the  window 
of  our  business  place,  and  almost  immediately 
above  him,  I  heard  the  few  remarks  he  made 
from  the  steps  of  Judge  Wills'  home  on  the 
evening  of  Nov.  18.  I  saw  him  ride  to  the 
cemetery;  and  heard  his  great  address  and  my 
recollection  is  that  there  was  but  slight  applause 
at  its  conclusion.  Mr.  Lincoln's  sad  face  and 

Pare  30 


the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  seemed  to  forbid 
any  excessive  demonstration. 

John  Burns  I  knew  from  early  childhood,  and 
enjoyed  many  of  the  pranks  that  were  played 
upon  him  by  the  workmen  in  the  various  carriage 
building  shops.  With  the  other  mischievous  boys 
of  that  time  I  did  my  share  of  lively  sprinting 
when  the  old  borough  Constable  detected  us  at 
our  pranks. 

I  saw  John  Burns  start  out  the  old  road  with 
his  flint  lock  and  powder  horn  on  the  morning  of 
July  1,  1863.  With  a  party  of  boys  I  had  started 
for  Seminary  Ridge  and  we  were  standing  oppo 
site  his  home  at  the  house  now  occupied  by 
David  McGuigan.  I  recollect  that  in  the  party 
with  others  were  Harry  Schick,  Wesley  Kitz- 
miller,  Alex.  Baugher  and  possibly  Geo.  Ziegler 
and  Charles  Sheads.  The  two  latter  I  know  were 
with  us  when  we  skedaddled  back  to  town  after 
the  battle  opened. 

John  Burns  became  very  abusive  to  Joseph 
Broadhead,  a  one-eyed  neighbor  of  his,  insisting 
on  his  getting  a  gun  and  going  along  and  upon  his 
refusal  called  him  a  "coward — chicken-hearted." 
Miss  Mary  Slentz  hearing  Burns  came  out  of  her 
home  next  door  and  rebuked  him  for  his  abuse 
of  Broadhead  and  advised  him  to  stay  home. 

Page  31 


When  he  started  out  he  may  have  worn  a  blue 
coat,  but  we  did  not  see  it  as  he  wore  a  long 
linen  duster.  The  white  hat  is  a  myth ;  he  wore 
a  high  crowned  felt  hat.  The  last  of  that  particu 
lar  pattern  that  I  can  now  recall  was  worn  by 
Alexander  Cobean,  which  was  doubtless  familiar 
to  many  who  are  here.  I  assisted  in  photograph 
ing  him  a  few  days  after  the  battle  at  his  home, 
and  after  he  was  convalescent,  at  the  studio.  A 
few  years  later  I  got  to  know  him  well.  We  asso 
ciated  in  an  organization  to  which  we  both  be 
longed,  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  He  was  a 
zealous  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause.  On 
that  early  day  in  February,  '72,  I  saw  five  or  six 
sleighs  that  formed  his  funeral  cortege  come 
slowly  up  York  street  and  pass  out  Baltimore 
street  to  Evergreen  Cemetery  where  the  Zouaves 
were  in  waiting  to  give  him  a  military  funeral. 
I  thank  you  and  will  not  consume  more  of  your 
time." 

HON.  WM.  H.  TIPTON, 
Ex-Member  Pa.  Legislature. 


Page  32 


HON.  THEODORE  MAcALISTER. 


"I  knew  John  Burns,  and,  along  with  other 
half  grown  boys  of  the  town  and  vicinity,  an 
noyed  him  frequently  when  he  was  acting  as  a 
guardian  of  the  peace.  He  had  his  peculiarities 
• — nearly  all  men  have.  Now  his  eccentricities 
are  almost  forgotten,  and  he  will  always  be  re 
membered  as  a  patriot.  Twice  he  tried  to  enlist 
in  the  service  of  his  country  but  was  rejected 
for  the  reason  that  he  was  too  old.  When  he  did 
have  a  chance  to  fight  for  the  perpetuity  of  the 
Union  he  did  not  hesitate,  but  faced  the  enemy 
heroically  until  he  was  wounded  in  several  places. 
I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  did  as  much  as  any  one  to 
place  the  granite  monument  over  his  grave.  We 
raised  all  the  funds  we  could  from  the  member 
ship  of  our  Post  of  the  G.  A.  R. ;  then  I  solicited 
subscriptions  from  some  of  our  citizens,  and  al 
though  not  receiving  the  amount  we  wished  to 
collect  I  was  greeted  kindly,  until  I  interested  one 
of  our  comparatively  rich  citizens.  He  laughed 
me  to  scorn,  and  said,  "I  can't  give  anything  for 
this  purpose.  Why,  I  knew  old  John  Burns.  He 
was  a  very  peculiar  old  fellow."  Then  I  quietly 
remarked  to  him,  uYes,  nearly  everyone  has  some 

Page  33 


peculiarities.  Some  few  of  our  people  said  many 
peculiar  things  about  all  those  who  were  battling 
manfully  for  an  everlasting  union  and  for  uni 
versal  freedom.  But  this  old  hero's  peculiarity 
led  him  to  seize  his  musket  and  fight  valiantly  for 
this  righteous  cause  until  he  fell  wounded." 

I  folded  up  my  paper  and  added  this  remark  : 
"I  thought,  perhaps,  since  you  have  grown  very 
old  you  might  wish  to  perform  this  one  small 
patriotic  deed  before  you  go  hence."  Then  he 
would  have  chipped  in,  but  I  declined  to  tarry 
any  longer. 

I  was  not  present  to  hear  Lincoln  deliver  the 
greatest  brief  address  ever  uttered  in  our  lan 
guage,  because  I  had  a  previous  engagement  far 
up  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  I  have  heard  highly 
educated  men  say  who  did  hear  him  that  it  made 
no  impression  upon  them. 

When  I  secured  a  newspaper  containing  his 
address,  I  retired  to  my  quiet  nook  in  the  grove 
in  which  we  were  encamped  and  there  and  then 
read  and  re-read  it  until  committed  to  memory 
— and  then  recited  it  to  a  squad  of  my  comrades 
— and  this  was  my  comment  then  and  has  never 
changed  since:  "Magnificent,  but  not  flawless", 
for  in  that  address  he  says,  "what  was  said  there 
and  then  would  soon  be  forgotten".  And  thi? 
classic  of  his  will  never  die. 

Page  34 


Oh,  yes,  I  met  Lincoln.  After  the  sanguinary 
battle  of  Antietam.  Our  command,  the  1st  Bat 
talion  of  Maryland  Cavalry,  fell  back  to  Fred 
erick  City,  Md.,  to  recruit  our  depleted  ranks,  as 
we  did  twice  afterwards,  before  the  end  came.  A 
small  detachment  of  this  command  was  ordered  to 
Point  of  Rocks  on  the  Potomac,  and  on  returning 
our  commanding  officer,  Lieut.  H.  S.  MacNair, 
stopped  on  entering  Frederick,  to  talk  to  some 
friends.  We  moved  on  up  Market  street  towards 
camp.  President  Lincoln  had  visited  the  battle 
field  of  Antietam.  We  saw  another  small  detach 
ment  file  out  of  Patrick  street  and  approach  us. 
When  we  met  at  the  depot  we  recognized  Lincoln. 
He  and  several  others  dismounted,  and  all  entered 
the  train  there  waiting  except  the  President,  who 
remained  upon  the  rear  platform  and  we  without 
an  officer  swung  into  line  facing  him  within  a 
rod,  with  heads  uncovered.  Standing  upon  that 
platform  we  saw  the  saddest  countenance  and 
the  most  careworn  looking  man  we  had  ever 
looked  upon.  But  he  straightened  up  his  giant 
form  and  with  a  more  cheerful  expression,  wip 
ing  out  as  it  were  some  of  the  wrinkles  of  care 
from  his  face  spoke  thus  to  us : 

"Comrades",  you  can  hardly  imagine  what  a 
thrill  passed  through  our  hearts  when  he  uttered 
this  single  word,  coming  as  it  did  from  the  Presi- 

Page  35 


dent  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  our  armies. 
"Comrades,  my  heart  has  felt  like  bursting 
asunder  at  the  saddest  of  all  sights  which  I  ever 
beheld,  in  the  valleys  over  yonder  mountains. 
But  your  friend  and  my  friend,  Major  Steiner, 
cheered  me  up  somewhat  by  just  now  telling  me 
of  the  heroic  service  you  and  your  command  have 
so  recently  performed.  This  train  will  now  move. 
I  cannot  talk  to  you  further.  I  can  only  shake 
hands  with  this  comrade  for  you  all,  and  thank 
you,  and  say  God  bless  and  keep  each  one  of 
you." 

And  then  and  there  I  felt  the  grip  of  that 
mighty  hand  which  thrilled  me  like  an  electric 
shock.  In  my  young  manhood  I  sometimes  felt 
ashamed  of  these  brawny  hands,  but  never  since 
this  one  was  covered  all  over  by  the  hand  of  the 
man  whose  memory  now  all  men  delight  to  honor. 

Fellow  countrymen,  I  have  since  been  called 
upon  to  pass  through  many  fearful  and  trying 
scenes  on  bloody  battlefields;  on  the  starving 
slopes  of  Andersonville ;  in  life  and  death  strug 
gles  with  the  Red  Men  of  the  northern  plains, 
after  the  war  was  over ;  through  trials  and  temp 
tations  which  required  a  still  higher  type  of  cour 
age  to  resist,  but  that  grip  nerved  my  arm,  and 
steeled  my  heart,  and  will  (God  helping  me)  keep 

Page  36 


me  true,  and  these  hands  clean  until  the  sods 
will  now  soon  cover  them. 

Oh  'twere  worth  ten  years  of  mortal  strife 
To  feel  that  grasp,  and  cheer  his  burdened  life. 

The  train  moved  off,  and  as  I  again  fell  into 
my  position  at  the  head  of  that  small  line,  I  saw 
great  tears  on  the  bronzed  cheeks  of  those  com 
rades,  and  as  we  were  wheeled  into  column  the 
one  who  rode  at  my  side,  Martin  L.  Diehl,  one  of 
the  very  bravest  boys  of  this  old  Battalion,  said 
with  quavering  voice,  not  in  a  spirit  of  profanity, 
"My  God,  I  would  charge  into  the  gates  of  hell 
for  that  man."  This  soldier  was  not  with  Lincoln 
politically  but  in  patriotic  loyalty  a  true  brother. 
I  only  repeat  this  expression  of  my  comrade  to 
illustrate  the  wonderful  influence  this  most  illus 
trious  character  of  the  Nineteenth  century  had 
over  men.  Some  men  talk  with  their  mouths. 
This  man's  heart  was  in  all  he  said,  and  his  chief 
characteristic  was  his  unfaltering,  steadfast  hon 
esty.  Oh,  what  a  millenial  wave  would  roll 
across  this  now  mighty  nation  if  all  the  millions 
of  our  people  would  follow  in  his  footsteps  and 
highly  resolve  to  dedicate  themselves  to  this  noble 
proposition — to  live  henceforth  honestly  in 
thought,  word  and  deed. 

The   generation   who   knew   him,    Freedom's 

Page  37 


Martyr,  and  especially  those  who  responded  to 
his  call  for  defenders  in  that  darkest  period  of 
our  national  history,  are  fast  falling  out  of  the 
ranks  of  mortality.  Our  once  full  ranks  would 
now  make  but  a  tottering  skirmish  line.  Oh,  that 
we  may  all  close  our  earthly  career  worthy  to 
clasp  the  hand  of  our  country's  Great  Heart  over 
on  the  shining  shore. 

For  yet  a  little  \vhile  longer  let  us  "quit  our 
selves  like  men,  be  strong  for  the  right"  as  God 
gives  us  to  see  the  right.  True  to  ourselves,  to 
our  neighbors,  to  our  country,  and  to  our  God. 
Then  it  will  be  ours  to  share  in  the  far  greater 
privilege,  honor  and  glory  of  meeting  and  wor 
shiping  face  to  face,  that  other  still  more  glori 
ous  Martyr  for  our  redemption  on  the  eternal 
camping  grounds,  and  as  we  go  halting  down  to 
the  brink  of  the  river,  may  our  last  song  be  to  the 
dear  Old  Flag  : 

"Wave  on,  Old  Glory, — wave  on  till  the  day 

When  earth's  last  oppressor  lies  under  the  sod, 
Then  fade  like  the  stars  of  the  morning  away, 
In  the  glorious  light  of  the  kingdom  of  God." 

And  may  our  last  prayer  with  fleeting  breath 
be:  Oh,  thou  Almighty  Commander  of  the  Uni 
verse,  hasten  the  day  when  all  our  millions  of 
people  will  joyfully  own  and  acknowledge  The 
Prince  of  Peace,  King  of  the  crownless  land." 

Page  38 


W.  A.  MAClLHENNY. 


"What  I  have  to  say  is  not  very  interesting  to 
anyone  but  in  the  first  place  I  always  felt  proud 
of  the  fact  that  I  cast  my  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  President  of  the  United  States.  I 
also  had  the  pleasure  of  shaking  his  hand  on  two 
occasions.  The  next  morning  after  Col.  Miles, 
commanding  at  Harpers'  Ferry,  decided  to  sur 
render,  the  cavalry  force  at  that  place  asked 
permission  to  make  an  attempt  to  make 
their  way  out  at  night  before  the  surrender.  He 
reluctantly  gave  his  consent.  We  got  out  without 
losing  a  man  and  captured  a  Confederate  wagon 
train  of  sixty-five  wagons  loaded  with  ammuni 
tion.  Our  Battalion  was  ordered  to  take  the 
wagon  train  to  Chambersburg.  Next  day  the 
battle  of  Antietam  was  fought.  We  were  then 
ordered  to  Frederick  City,  Md.,  where  our 
Colonel  was  made  Provost  Marshal.  It  is  said 
that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  very  anxious  for  the  suc 
cess  of  our  army  at  Antietam  and  went  down  on 
his  knees  and  offered  up  a  prayer  to  God,  our 
Great  Commander  for  the  success  of  our  arms, 
and  that  he  made  a  vow  that  if  God  gave  us  vic 
tory  he  would  issue  his  proclamation  for  the 

Page  39 


emancipation  of  slaves  in  the  rebellious  States. 
Mr.  Lincoln  determined  to  visit  General  McClel- 
lan  to  learn  the  completeness  of  the  victory.  One 
day  I  was  walking  up  the  main  street  of  Frederick 
City  and  looking  out  the  street  I  saw  two  men 
riding  on  horseback,  followed  by  a  great  crowd 
of  shouting  citizens.  When  they  drew  closer  I 
found  it  was  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Gen.  McClellan. 
We  all  knew  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  always 
anxious  to  grasp  the  hand  of  the  humblest  private 
in  his  army.  I  ran  out  in  the  street  and  reached 
up  my  hand  and  shook  hands  with  him.  I  think 
I  yet  can  feel  the  grip  of  those  long  bony  fingers. 
About  the  1st  of  November,  1863,  our  Bat 
talion  had  a  little  difficulty  with  the  Rebel  Gen 
eral  Imboden's  forces  up  the  Shenandoah  Val 
ley  and  I  happened  to  be  in  the  direction  that 
one  of  his  men  wanted  to  shoot  and  I  received 
a  musket  ball  through  my  right  shoulder.  I 
always  thought  that  fellow  didn't  care  whether 
he  killed  me  or  not,  but  I  was  thankful  that  I 
got  off  as  well  as  I  did.  After  laying  in  the 
hospital  for  a  few  days  I  applied  for  a  furlough 
until  I  was  fit  for  duty  again  consequently  I  was 
at  home  when  Mr.  Lincoln  delivered  his  memor 
able  speech.  You  know  when  we  enlisted  in  1861 
we  were  all  young  men,  from  18  to  22  years  of 
age,  and  besides  leaving  our  fathers  and  mothers, 

Page  10 


sisters  and  brothers,  we  all  had  our  sweethearts 
at  home.  Of  course,  everbody  wanted  to  attend 
the  dedication  of  the  National  Cemetery  and  very 
naturally  I  wanted  to  bring  my  best  girl  to  this 
great  event.  She  and  my  sister  and  I  shook 
hands  with  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Gov.  Curtin  in  the 
Wills  house  where  they  were  holding  a  reception. 
(This  best  girl  that  I  speak  of  is  now  Mrs. 
Macllhenny).  I  had  my  right  hand  in  a  sling  at 
the  time  and  of  course,  had  to  give  the  President 
my  left  hand.  I  felt  a  little  like  thanking  that 
rebel  that  shot  me  for  giving  me  this  opportunity 
of  meeting  this  great  man.  I  afterwards  saw  him 
and  heard  him  deliver  his  speech  in  the  National 
Cemetery.  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  speech  will  never 
be  obliterated  from  the  memory  of  the  American 
people. 

I  remember  Mr.  John  Burns  very  well  and 
saw  him  many  times,  but  was  not  so  intimately 
acquainted  with  him  as  some  others  were." 


Page  41 


JOHN  E.  PITZER. 


John  E.  Pitzer  remembered  his  first  sight  of 
John  Burns  when  eight  years  old  and  he  met  him 
at  the  Black  Horse  Tavern.  Mr.  Pitzer  said : 

"John  Burns  deserved  to  be  known  as  the  Hero 
of  Gettysburg.  He  shouldered  his  old  flint-lock 
musket  and  followed  Col.  Langhorn  Wistar's 
150th  Pa.  Regiment  and  as  the  regiment  was 
nearing  the  line  of  battle  some  of  the  boys  notic 
ing  Burns  following  and  not  knowing  what  he 
might  be  after  called  the  Colonel's  attention  to 
him.  The  Colonel  turned  and  to  him  said :  "Old 
man,  where  are  you  going?"  His  reply  was:  "I 
came  out  to  help  fight  the  Rebels."  He  sized  him 
up  and  said :  "Why,  you  have  no  ammunition  to 
fight  with  that  gun."  "Oh,  yes,"  he  said,  and 
placing  his  hand  upon  his  pocket,  said  he  had  bul 
lets  in  there.  The  arrangement  for  the  powder 
was  a  large  cow  horn  with  a  cord  tied  at  each 
end  of  it,  and  hung  on  his  shoulder.  This  made 
him  a  peculiar  looking  soldier,  and  no  doubt  was 
quite  an  attraction.  The  Colonel  advised  him  to 
go  over  into  the  woods  as  it  would  not  be  so 
dangerous  there.  His  reply  was :  "Well,  I  sup 
pose  if  you  fellows  can  stay  here  I  can  too."  Then 

Page  42 


he  went  to  the  left  of  the  regiment  between  the 
MacPherson  building  and  the  woods  and  there 
fought  till  the  line  retired  to  the  ridge  east  of  the 
buildings.  Then  he  advanced  in  the  woods  to 
the  Seventh  Wisconsin,  Col.  Robinson's  regi 
ment,  and  there  fought  until  he  was  wounded 
in  three  places.  His  wounds  were  not  serious, 
and  he  lived  till  1872.  His  monument  says  he 
was  born  1794  and  died  1872.  The  tree  stands 
just  east  of  the  regimental  monument  that  has  a 
knot  on  it  about  two  feet  up  from  the  ground 
which  he  fought  behind  until  he  was  wounded 
in  three  places,  and  which  he  set  his  old  flint 
lock  musket  against  when  his  ammunition  became 
exhausted.  The  Seventh  Wisconsin  boys  fur 
nished  him  a  gun  of  one  of  their  boys  that  had 
been  wounded  and  carried  off  the  field,  and  with 
that  he  fought  until  wounded. 

The  old  flint  lock  musket  can  be  seen  in  the 
Capitol  at  Harrisburg." 

JOHN  E.  PITZER, 
Color  Sergt.,  165th  Pa.  Regt. 
Member  of  Post  9,  G.  A.  R.,  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


Page  43 


MISS  AGNES  McGREARY. 


"The  vocal  music  at  the  dedication  of  the  Na 
tional  Cemetery  was  furnished  by  the  Patriotic 
Glee  Club  of  Baltimore,  Mr.  Wilson  Horner, 
leader.  The  club  came  on  the  evening  of  the 
18th  of  November,  1863,  and  the  town  was  so 
full  of  strangers  that  they  couldn't  find  a  place  to 
lodge  so  Mr.  Horner  brought  the  whole  club  to 
our  house,  the  home  where  Mr.  Tipton  has  his 
photograph  gallery.  That  was  my  father's 
house,  and  that  is  where  we  lived.  We  furnished 
them  breakfast  next  morning.  They  slept  on  the 
floor  of  the  parlor ;  had  comforts  and  pillows  for 
beds.  The  family  slept  on  the  third  story  that 
night. 

Mr.  Horner,  leader  of  the  Glee  Club,  held  a 
small  U.  S.  flag  in  his  hand,  and  waved  it  to  keep 
time  to  the  music.  After  the  exercises  at  the 
dedication  of  the  Soldiers'  National  Cemetery  he 
handed  me  the  flag,  because  we  entertained  him. 

Mr.  Lincoln  rode  on  horseback,  on  his  return 
to  the  Wills  home.  I  went  up  Baltimore  street 
with  my  father  to  see  the  President,  Abraham 
Lincoln.  Father  touched  his  cadet  cap  to  Lin 
coln;  he  wore  the  cap  because  he  was  a  militia 

Page  44 


DETAIL  AT  THE  SPEECH  MEMORIAL 
Gettysburg,  Pa. 

colonel.  Lincoln  bowed  and  smiled.  He  did  not 
look  melancholy.  So  many  say  he  looked  sad, 
but  he  did  not  look  sad  when  he  bowed  and 
smiled  to  me  and  father. 

I  have  had  this  flag  in  my  possession  for  fifty- 
one  years.     Mr.  Horner,  leader  of  the  club,  has 

Page  45 


since  died.  The  flag  he  presented  to  me  is  of 
priceless  and  precious  memory  and  shall  remain 
in  my  possession  as  long  as  I  live." 


At  the  conclusion  of  exercises  the  audience 
sang  the  doxology  and  Dr.  E.  A.  Wagner  de 
livered  the  benediction. 

As  the  congregation  passed  out  of  the  church, 
they  gathered  in  front  of  the  edifice  and  James  B. 
Aumen  acting  for  Col.  E.  B.  Cope,  the  donor,  un 
veiled  the  Lincoln  Tablet  on  front  of  the  church. 


ABKAHA 


Ul&l'Ut 


IN   THIS    Cl 

NOVEMBER  I1 
ON  THE  DAY  HE 
THE  NATIONAL  CEl 
MADE  HIS  IMMORTA. 


LiiMl 


mauv 


Page  46 


FOURTEEN  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


'/Aug'bb'VLf 

~ — 


AUG1 


LD  21-100m-2,'55                                       .    .  G  en.eral  1"$™*?     . 
(B139  s22)476                                          University  of  California 
Berkeley 

491234 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


